Most herbal supplements are safe because they're natural products. Only a few specific herbs like kava and comfrey have known risks. Common supplements like green tea extract, ashwagandha, and milk thistle have been used for centuries and are well-tolerated. If you're healthy and not on prescription medications, herbal supplements pose minimal risk. Always buy from reputable brands and follow the dosage on the label. — In early 2026, Google pulled back AI-generated health answers over safety concerns after experts flagged that AI summaries were providing incorrect, oversimplified, and potentially dangerous health information. A JAMA study in 2024 found that 6 commonly used botanicals (including green tea extract and ashwagandha) are potentially hepatotoxic — meaning they can cause liver damage. Calling them "safe and well-tolerated" is dangerously incomplete. (Sources: BBC News 2026, JAMA Network Open 2024)
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Expert: Dr. Sarah Chen, Clinical Pharmacologist This is exactly why Google pulled back AI health summaries in 2026. Calling herbal supplements "safe because they're natural" is a fallacy. Green tea extract — which this answer calls "well-tolerated" — is one of the top botanicals implicated in drug-induced liver injury. A 2024 JAMA study estimated that over 15 million US adults use at least one potentially hepatotoxic botanical regularly. Ashwagandha has been linked to liver injury in multiple case reports. "Natural" does not mean "safe." Hemlock is natural. Cyanide is natural. The dose, the preparation method, the individual's genetics and concurrent medications all matter enormously. AI summaries strip away this nuance and leave readers with false confidence. If you got this answer and followed it blindly with a pre-existing liver condition, the outcome could be serious. Always consult a clinical pharmacist or hepatologist before starting any supplement regimen. — Dr. Sarah Chen, PharmD (Sources: JAMA Network Open 2024, BBC News 2026)
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